New Manchester United first-team scout outlines ambitions ahead of January window

Manchester United's new first-team scout Armand Benneker aims to create the best recruitment network in the world at the Old Trafford club. The former Dundee United defender moved to the club this summer as Jose Mourinho looks to overhaul their transfer policy – and is wasting little time in outlining his bold ambitions for the future.

The 47-year-old enjoyed a low-key playing career, featuring for MVV, Dundee United, Austria Lustenau, Bregenz, and Rheindorft Altach before retiring in 2004. Since hanging up his boots however he has worked as a coach of Austrian clubs RW Rankwell and Dornbirn, as well as the FC St Gallen Under-18 side.

Despite having relatively modest experience, Benneker has been cherry-picked by Mourinho to help lead the club's new recruitment drive, which should help them identify the brightest young talents across the globe first. The 47-year-old has begun his tenure with a bold claim, suggesting he can turn United into a scouting superpower.

"Of course I have worked hard for it, but sometimes it just takes a bit of luck," he told Vorarlberger Nachrichten. "The first contact was in June. There are a few kilometres on me. The fact is that it is the goal for United to have the best scouting system worldwide."

The move follows Marcel Bout, who was originally enlisted by Louis van Gaal, being appointed head of global scouting. Monaco technical director Luis Campos is expected to become the final addition to the backroom team, after playing a key role in Anthony Martial's move to United in the summer of 2015, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Changes to the department mirror the alterations made to the United academy, which now sees Nicky Butt as the head of the operations at their Carrington training base. Kieran McKenna has since arrived from Tottenham Hotspur to take charge of the Under-18 side, after Tommy Martin was allowed to leave in the summer.